This blog is an exploration of principled problem solving which is an initiative at Guilford College encouraging a focus of people's abilities and experiences toward solving real-world problems under the guidance of the college’s core values of community, diversity, equality, excellence, integrity, justice and stewardship.

April 2012

04/27/2012

Organizations come and go, just like businesses, here today, gone tomorrow. There are many organizations in Greensboro, some better known than others—for a variety of reasons. I had to stop and wonder why? Could it be that some organizations are located on the right side of town? Or is it because some of these places have flat screens in the lobby and an espresso, latte, cappuccino, coffeemaker for their walk-ins? If these are the material things that symbolize the service worth of an organization to the community, then American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) of Greensboro should not be an organization listed in your smart phone.

AFSC’s Greensboro office has none of the flashy office items that you’ll find in most 21st century offices. AFSC’s area coordinator, Ann Lennon and project director, Lori Fernald Khamala, share a modest four-room office; although space is a premium, you wouldn’t know it by the parade of revolving college interns, community volunteers, and a trail of ants, literally. “Yes,” ants.

What you will find behind Lori's and Ann's unassuming smiles are two dedicated, intelligent, humanitarian leaders. Both women have far greater issues than ants that occupy their focus. Things like, North Carolina immigrant rights issues for people of color, addressing concerns about global poverty, social injustice and the cost of war. Oh, and those ants, I view their presence as an indication for us humans to fall in step with AFSC as I have done.

As a Guilford College intern at AFSC, this spring, I was exposed to many of these over-looked social violations that effect many groups of people in our neighboring communities. In my opinion, Ann and Lori do more than operate a local organization. They stand up and are a vocal public voice that confronts systemic political bullying.

It takes a certain kind of individual to standup and be a courageous, ethical leader. Their dedicated efforts for social justice has enriched and expanded my social space.

I am forever changed, forever grateful, and forever a courageous leader. So, if I happen see a trail of ants. I know it’s okay because a good leader must have followers, even if only ants.

04/25/2012

Ten Thousand Villages, or TTV, is a non-profit fair trade organization that supports artisans in developing countries by buying crafts at a fair price in America. When visiting Ten Thousand Villages for the first time, I was overwhelmed with the environment and culture that the volunteers and management introduced to my group: Tim, Jodie, and me. Being welcomed by a dog and several individuals that had smiles on their faces, sparked my interest to venture into the store and see why these signs of passion, seen from all aspects of the store, were created and existed. My initial response to the store was curiosity because everyone seemed too good to be true. I thought to myself that no one can be this happy to volunteer or work and have passion this high about something they were most likely introduced as customers. Several questions flooded my mind about this organization with how it effectively functions; especially with volunteers that only volunteer in limited time spots and could easily become uncommitted.

Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard, by Dan Heath and Chip Heath, has help me personally investigate and dissect how Ten Thousand Villages has become successful, unlike some of the surrounding branches. When applying TTV to the roles that Switch explained, it was hard to see how the Elephant and the Rider were not working together. Dan and Chip explained the importance of the two working together in order to effectively function for a long period of time. One thing that TTV does very effectively is keep the Rider motivating the Elephant, and vice versa, even in difficult times. After speaking with management and volunteers, it was evident that the recession hit all TTV stores hard. During this time period, they conveyed how hard it was to think they were going to make it through the recession, but their Elephants stood strong overall while shaping the path to what was next.

My group was asked to conduct an interview analysis and create a recruitment video for Ten Thousand villages. While conducting our interviews, we asked a question “Why do you choose to volunteer your time at Ten Thousand Village?” After analyzing our results, it was interesting to see that all volunteers that we interviewed expressed passion for the mission of the organization or passion for being able to help others. It is easy to keep the volunteers interested because each item being sold in the store has a great amount of history. The management provides a wonderful training program that clearly outlines every aspect of the store. Chip and Dan Heath stated in Switch that “if you want people to change, you can provide clear direction or boost their motivation and determination” (Heath, 181). I believe Ten Thousand Villages portrays great examples of how they effectively do both in each stage of working or surviving as an organization in this economy. Switch helped me understand why so many volunteers showed such passion when I first arrived.

04/19/2012

In my opinion, an effective organization is one that is willing to allow new individuals to feel welcomed into their organizations and be motivated to do certain tasks. Lots of organizations have a tendency to form cliques which causes separation between members of the organization that can be based on gender, religion, work ethics, or ethnicity. When this happens new rookies tend to get thrown around in a meat grinder until they are given a task they have no urge to do. Finally it will come to a point where the new volunteer can’t take it anymore and he or she decides to join a different organization. The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is one organization that has been able to make me, a new volunteer; feel welcomed and motivated to work for them.

However it was not as simple as I have stated in the paragraph above. When I first arrived at AFSC I was completely surrounded by women in a small room, which did not bother me at all at the time, but I did feel like I had no voice among the group. It was hard for me to adjust to this environment because the only time where I was in a female-dominated group was back at home. When I am at home there are three women and only two men, but the women have more say in the house. The head of the house is my mom and second is my aunty. Both of them have the power over everyone in the house which is why I am used to a female-dominated environment because I have experienced it back home. However, coming to AFSC and being in a female-dominated environment is quite a different story. It took me some time to adjust to the female-dominated environment at AFSC but I later realized that it was not as difficult as I thought it would be. Anne and Lori are currently the two main supervisors at the American Friends Service Committee office in Greensboro. Each day I showed up they both greeted me the same way as the female volunteers in my group and treated me with the same amount of respect as the rest of the people volunteering for their organization. Whenever I needed help or assistance, both Anne and Lori were willing to help me and I got tasks done much more efficiently for them. While the days went into weeks and then into a few months working for AFSC I have not once have been put down or deprived of being in AFSC because I was a lone male in a female-dominated environment. Overall AFSC has helped me feel welcomed to their organization.

Another quality that makes AFSC an effective organization is that their leaders motivate their volunteers to participate in events and complete designated tasks. Every day that I go to AFSC I am always assigned a task to do instead of having to wait for something to do. Also, Lori and Anne emphasize to us that they sometimes desperately need more helpers to support them through their events like “Women and Islam Panel” and the “Greensboro Chinese School Visit.” Not only that, but both Anne and Lori explain to us what will be done at the event, what they event is for, and what they needed help with. This greatly helped us to understand why they were holding a panel showing the Amina Wadud film or having members of the Muslim Student Association come by to share their experiences after 9/11. Also, another thing I should mention is that I was required to participated in at least 1-2 of the events but knowing about each one helped motivate me to really try to help them. American Friends Service Committee definitely is an effective organization that is capable of helping new members to become part of their group so they achieve their set-out goals.

04/16/2012

Over the past semester, I have put in many hours at the Interactive Resource Center (IRC). Through this time I have learned a lot about aspects of a business that work and do not. Although there are many positives and negatives wihtin any organization, one major thing seemed crucial for success. That aspect was organization/clarity within the actual facility and within one's mind and plans. This should be a major part of every developing business, but it is often not achieved due to inability.

Through my work at the IRC, i learned the amount of paperwork an organization has coming in everyday. Because they work with between 120 and 150 clients everyday, the housing department constantly recieved new paperwork and older paperwork that was being updated. The papers were organized on a monthly basis, in order based on when they were recieved. This kind of system is necessary to maintain organization within an office. I also thought it was beneficial to specifically label each computer document. Instead of just putting small abbreviations, the IRC specificed in sentences the contents of each document. This made it easier to know exactly what was within a document and to always pick the right one.

I also added having organization at the mental level. After reading all the texts and mixing them with my individual work, I find it vital for people to classify different aspects of tasks within their minds and to assess them. This assessment can then be displayed in many ways. For me, i like to make lists of things based on importance, and then make side notes regarding vital components that I do not want to forget. A large percentage of people try to stay organized mentally by using calenders or planners at work so that they do not forget things. As smart phones have developed, you can even get alarm reminders that an event is occuring and important. I even use my ipod to jot down notes during a class or meeting that I want to remember for later.

By organizing one's mind and work place it becomes easier to actually complete tasks. Everything surrounding you is easily accesible and all of the crucial thoughts and appointments appear more organized. By applying this crucial element in a positive manner, I think smaller organizations (such as the IRC) could be more effective in their work and ultimately grow internally and expand. However, without it, it becomes difficult to carry out simple tasks and one becomes overwhelmed mentally with everything on their plate.

04/12/2012

Hello. I am Kaoru Kofukada, a junior psychology major at Guilford College. I am also a visiting student from International Christian University in Japan. I have been working as a volunteer at the Glen Haven Community Center since last September. The Glen Haven Community Center is a refugee support facility located in Greensboro, which cooperates with Guilford College. The facility provides volunteer opportunities of afterschool tutoring for children and ELS class assistance for adults. Through interacting with refugees as a volunteer, I realized that most of the refugee adults in the community were unemployed. This fact was shocking to me, which motivated me to find the way to support their job searches through consulting with the workers at the Glen Haven. This began the computer literacy class at the Glen Haven.

Another volunteer and I started the computer literacy class this February. The goal of this class is to enable refugee adults to use a computer to address their need to make living. The class content includes how to set up a computer, typing, e-mail, and documentation. After working on this computer class for two months, students improve their computer literacy skill. For example, students are able type faster. As a person who has developed this program, I am so glad to interact with students who are willing to learn computer skills and see their improvement.

This program is also the commitment to action I made at Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) 2012 . There were many events taking place at CGIU. The skill session that I attended gave me tips to expand and continue a program. Moreover, I could have a conversation with the organization coordinators who currently run social businesses as well as the students who work for global issue based on their own commitments to action. Some students work for refugees in different ways which include: supporting refugee camp in Thailand, providing refugees with daily information through internet, and teaching languages. In addition, it was also interesting to hear the different perspectives from students who are working for other global issues such as environmental protection, health, and education. These events in CGIU inspired and motivated me to develop my project.

My current aim is to create an internship program at the Glen Haven including a computer literacy class for Guilford College students so that they will be able to gain experience in planning classes and interacting with refugees as well as continuing to provide refugee adults opportunities to learn the computer literacy skills.

04/10/2012

The community site where I chose to volunteer this semester through PPS is located in downtown Greensboro and is known as the Interactive Resource Center (IRC). I chose this center because it is a grassroots organization and has come a long way since its beginning. It's a multi-purpose center for individuals who are dealing with homelessness or at risk at becoming homeless. I chose to volunteer at this center because I volunteered here before by helping individuals build resumes, but I wanted to gain experience in the housing area as well.

The Interactive Resource Center’s mission is to “assist people who are homeless, recently homeless or facing homelessness reconnect with their own lives and with the community at large.” (Interactive Resource Center, 2010).

The IRC provides assistance in various areas. For example, they have a nurse on staff to see individuals who may need their blood pressure checked or assistance if they are sick. After an assessment guests are allowed to receive referrals to local places for food, clothing, financial assistance, and furniture. In addition to this the IRC also helps homeless people build a resume, print an ID card, access housing assistance, get lunch if needed, or obtain clothing for interviews.

One aspect about the IRC that I think has allowed the organization so much success is the sense of community that exists on site between the volunteers, staff, and clients. Even though each separate area of assistance has a different leader, all of the employees work interchangeably on a daily basis. While volunteering there, I thought it was great to have so much interaction between the departments. I think the open structure that allows this sense of community to exist directly correlates to this organizations success. Since 2009, what is known today as the IRC began in the basement of Bessemer United Church and is now located in its own warehouse, today serving 150-200 clients a day. Now, that to me spells success.

After reflecting further on the open organizational structure I noticed that it could sometimes become chaotic. I observed the open lobby a few weeks ago and noticed how numerous clients were waiting to receive help.Though chaotic, the sense of community that they are creating through their assistance is shining through. Looking at it from a clients' perspective the organizational structure used makes a lot of sense. Individuals who are homeless or facing a financial crisis might have a tendency to shy away from a very formal organization in my opinion because it could make them uncomfortable. Asking for assistance is a hard first step, but I think the informality of the IRC helps lessen this pressure for potential clients. For example, upon arrival if you're a client you aren't immediately slammed with paperwork and intake forms. You can choose to mingle in the open area with others if you wish and get a feel for the place and then choose to fill out a form if you want any services. The openness as you immediately walk in is nice as a client or as a volunteer because the informality puts you at ease.

Often, when I've spoken with others, formal structure is seen as very important in an organization. And often with this formality there is a lack of community because the roles of the employees are concrete and not much room is left for conversation that could help with community growth. Control within an organization is needed, but not to an overwhelming extent. With that said we should not forget about the possible success that may come from an informal organization. What matters most is appealing to those who you are trying to assist in a non-profit and I believe that the IRC does a great job at creating an open environment for clients facing homelessness.

04/03/2012

While reading Switch (2010) by the Heath brothers, my mind could not help but compare my own experiences to those presented in the book. Switch illustrates what change requires from an organization or an individual, in a simple way. So, how does change take place? I think we may all assume we hold the answer to this question, but we are more keen on describing the obstacles of that journey as opposed to how educational the process may have been.

I have found that many of the organizations I have been in contact with have really engaged in a format of leadership that is shared. They are great at nurturing their followers and implementing their thoughts. I once worked for an organization that worked effectively because the participants were an essential driving force in the work they were doing. The participants in the program were able to sit in on staff discussions and build things through the mission of the organization. There may not be a large uniqueness in this, but the way they were able to balance the logic of great organizational strategies and immense love for service is what set them apart from other not for profits. They however had a hard time nurturing the participants when big changes needed to take place. These changes moved from a lack of funding or a change in the culture of the organization as the variations in the skills of the young people grew and changed.

Individuals cannot do great work on their own without being overwhelmed and exhausted; the followers are who allow the leader to grow and flourish. "What often seems like laziness is often exhaustion (Heath, Heath 2010)." The leaders you see in organizations who turn from a boss portrayed as a friend, to the person everyone hides from are those that have taken on so much that they are unable to see the shadow they are casting. The leader must nurture their followers while the followers feel comfortable and continue to agree with the goals set by the leader and others in the organization.

To sum it up, in order for organizations to be effective in the work they are engaging in they must (1) nurture their followers, (2) accept change (3) and be truthful and honest with all parties involved.

Ten Thousand Villages, where I am currently fulfilling my fieldwork assignment, demonstrates the three traits of effectiveness.By watching the way they communicate I am impressed by their ability to engage in a practice of shared leadership. The organization runs on a large volunteer network; in order for the store to be effective and efficient they must hold the communication skills to do so. The volunteers are friendly and know a great deal of information regarding the products they are selling. The volunteers believe in the mission of the organization and this serves as a tool to nurture the volunteers.

My group and I, as Tim spoke about in his blog are currently in the process of working on a project for Ten Thousand Villages. Taylor, Tim, and I have never volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages before and I personally had never visited the store before receiving the assignment. I believe that this shows how open to change the organization is if they are willing to allow my classmates and I to assist them in their work.

There is no clear distinction between who are staffed employees and the volunteers; this format assumes that there is no hierarchy in place that creates a space of dissatisfaction and an undermining feeling.